QB Garcia leaves Jacksonville Sharks

Jacksonville Sharks Information

The on again, off again relationship between quarterback Aaron Garcia and the Jacksonville Sharks is off again.

The record-setting quarterback left the team this week due to family issues, head coach Les Moss said.

Garcia, 43 and in his 18th Arena Football League season, started in last Saturday’s 54-41 loss at Philadelphia. He threw for 253 yards and five touchdowns in his first start since he led the Sharks to the 2011 ArenaBowl championship at Arizona, but he also threw an interception and was sacked five times.

Alex Carder, who played with the Nashville Venom of the Professional Indoor Football League, was signed Thursday to replace Garcia on the roster. He will be in uniform when Jacksonville hosts Portland Saturday night at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

To make room for Carder, the Sharks placed Garcia on the league’s suspended list. That’s a formality, Moss said, to allow the team to fill the void.

“He’s dealing with personal issues,” Moss said. “I care about Aaron and his family, but I have to worry about the guys who show up and put it on the line each week. I have to worry about the players who are here and playing for us.”